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pet or working ferrer


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Hi This is my first post on here. I am from america so I dont have much experience in hunting with ferrets. I would like to hunt some stuff thats not protected like rats and maybe some other stuff. I was thinking of trying prarie dogs but I dont know much about how their burrows are because they live mostly west of where i live. My question is, Is there a difference between hunting ferrets and pet ferrets or are they about the same. I was just thinking like dogs there are working lines and pet lines in a lot of breeds just wasnt sure if ferrets are that way. In america most all of our ferrets come from the pet store from the same big breeder

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Ok I read part of the post with the link before I posted this question and dindt really under stand what they were talking about untill I went and read more of it. So if I go get a pet store type ferret (because thats about all thats availible here am I sol for hunting or will it just be a lesser qualit worker. Does anyone know how I could go about getting working type ferrets here. Is there anybody in america who has working ferrets. Can ferrets be shipped over seas very well? I bet that would cost a fortune. Im not planning on it I was just thinking.

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Ok I read part of the post with the link before I posted this question and dindt really under stand what they were talking about untill I went and read more of it. So if I go get a pet store type ferret (because thats about all thats availible here am I sol for hunting or will it just be a lesser qualit worker. Does anyone know how I could go about getting working type ferrets here. Is there anybody in america who has working ferrets. Can ferrets be shipped over seas very well? I bet that would cost a fortune. Im not planning on it I was just thinking.

 

 

Hiya.. there is a big debate as you see on the quality of work that you will get out of a "pet" ferret ...

 

my opinion is that its experience and YOUR confidence that makes the difference... given time, encouragement and proper treatment a LOT of "pet" bred ferrets could do the job.. perhaps not as hard core as some excellent working bred ferrets but still do the job none the less...

 

If you decide to try the hunting thing... Definitely get a locator collar and be prepared to dig especially if you dont exactly understand the construction of the burrows you intend to hunt. Though i will say that prairie dog burrows are ideal for ferrets. The rare Blackfoot breeding program is using prairie dog burrows to reaclimate the ferrets that are very soon to be reintroduced to the wild in New Mexico area... A Locator and collar will run you between £100 - £150 the current exchange rate is aprox 1.6 times that ammount in USD. You will also want to contact your local DNR and make sure it is LEGAL to hunt with ferrets in your state!

 

if you get a petstore ferret... i'd recommend getting one as early on as possible... take it off the crap dry stuff Marshall's feeds and onto a proper meat diet.. this will do two things.. one your ferret will be healthier and two it just might get the idea that meat is actually food! make sure to include your ideal prey.. though i'd skip rats!! never know where those nasty buggers have been! Thats gonna run you from $75 - $150 USD

 

A privately bred, naturally fed ferret is going to cost at least double i'd say... though they make take serious exception to you hunting your ferrets....

 

Having quality hunting ferrets shipped to you internationally IS an option... at the moment i believe United Cargo charges aproximately £250 per animal for shipping along with your flight to the states... i'm not sure what the cost is to fly them alone... there are restrictions as to when the animals can fly temps wise...

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The point of ferreting for me is being out in the fresh air with my animals, and watching them work. My advise to you MNTwister is to get the pet shop ferrets and work them anyway, you never know, you may wind up with a good'un ;) And dont forget to post your results on THL :D

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